The Importance of Intelligibility
When mixing speech, it is best to ensure intelligibility by using compression and EQ on the vocal.
This can be done using an EQ that is adjusted for a clearer sounding voice by increasing the gain at around 3k.
Speech EQ
Generally, I like to filter the low frequencies of the microphone out of the signal by using a high pass filter to remove any ‘bumps’ or other noises that don’t belong there also.
Once the EQ sounds clear and clean on the vocal, I will add some fairly substantial compression to the vocal in order to ‘smooth out’ the EQ that was put on for intelligibility.
I usually choose several compressors set to a very smooth setting and place them sequentially one after the other, or since I own a NeoDynium compressor from Roger Nichols Digital (now called the D4), I use one instead of several.
Speech Compression
The NeoDynium compressor was originally made by Brandon Ware at Elemental Audio but was sold/Licensed to RN Digital in 2006.
I never saw a reason to upgrade from the Elemental Audio versions, so I still use those.
At any rate, by using this compressor I am able to compress the vocal in such a way that it does not sound ‘compressed’ but instead has a very smooth sound to it.
Vox EQ for Body
However, having added high frequency EQ, and filtering the low end down via the hi pass filter, then compressing the vocal, sometimes it needs a tad of low end bump to give the vocal some body.
A little bump around 220 hz does the trick.
